ABA Championship History
The American Basketball Association awarded nine championships during
its nine-season existence. The Pittsburgh Pipers won the first ABA
title in 1968, while the New York Nets captured the final championship
in 1976 before the ABA-NBA merger.
The Indiana Pacers won a league-record three ABA
championships, claiming titles in 1970, 1972 and 1973.
The New York Nets won twice, while Pittsburgh, Oakland, Utah and
Kentucky each won one championship.
| Season |
ABA Champion |
Runner-Up |
Series |
| 1967-68 |
Pittsburgh Pipers |
New Orleans Buccaneers |
4-3 |
| 1968-69 |
Oakland Oaks |
Indiana Pacers |
4-1 |
| 1969-70 |
Indiana Pacers |
Los Angeles Stars |
4-2 |
| 1970-71 |
Utah Stars |
Kentucky Colonels |
4-3 |
| 1971-72 |
Indiana Pacers |
New York Nets |
4-2 |
| 1972-73 |
Indiana Pacers |
Kentucky Colonels |
4-3 |
| 1973-74 |
New York Nets |
Utah Stars |
4-1 |
| 1974-75 |
Kentucky Colonels |
Indiana Pacers |
4-1 |
| 1975-76 |
New York Nets |
Denver Nuggets |
4-2 |
ABA Championships by Franchise
| Franchise |
Championships |
Championship Seasons |
| Indiana Pacers |
3 |
1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73 |
| New York Nets |
2 |
1973-74, 1975-76 |
| Pittsburgh Pipers |
1 |
1967-68 |
| Oakland Oaks |
1 |
1968-69 |
| Utah Stars |
1 |
1970-71 |
| Kentucky Colonels |
1 |
1974-75 |
ABA Championship Notes
Most championships: Indiana Pacers — 3.
First ABA champion: Pittsburgh Pipers — 1967-68.
Final ABA champion: New York Nets — 1975-76.
Most Finals appearances: Indiana reached the ABA
Finals five times, winning three championships.
The ABA ceased operations after the 1975-76 season. Indiana,
New York, Denver and San Antonio entered the NBA as part of the
ABA-NBA merger.
